Indicator

ABSTRACT

In an indicator device, the usual pointer is replaced, in accordance with the invention, by a path of moving light which comprises an illuminatable path. The path is illuminatable from one end to the other in such a manner that, when a portion of the path is illuminated, then all of the path from one end thereof to the portion is illuminated while the remainder of the path, from the other end thereof to the portion, is not illuminated. The illuminatable path preferably comprises a plurality of individually illuminatable elements, and, preferably, each of the elements comprises strands of optical fiber.

[4 1 Apr. 10, 1973 [22] Filed:

[5 1 INDICATOR [75] Inventor: Paul Joseph Merk, Chomedey,

Quebec, Canada [73] Assignee: Canadian Marconi Company, Montreal,Quebec, Canada Mar. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 125,498

[52] U.S.Cl. ..116/129, 116/116, 116/129 L,

240/1 EL, 250/227, 340/380, 350/96 B [51] Int. Cl ..G09f 9/00 [58] Fieldof Search ..116/116, 57, 129 L,

116/129 E, 124.4; 340/324 R, 262, 380, 225, 264, 309.4, 263; 58/50 R;73/499; 250/227; 350/96 B; 240/1 EL, 8.16

2,887,679 5/ 1959 Curva ..340/264 3,157,854 11/1964 Riley ....340/262 X3,590,774 7/ 1971 Solow ..116/116 3,158,432 11/1964 Arend et a1...350/96 B X 3,213,179 10/1965 Clauson ..250/227 X 3,542,451 11/1970Washburn 1 ..350/96 B 3,558,895 l/1971 Hartmann ..350/96 B 3,631,47812/1971 McNaney ..340/380 Primary ExaminerLouis J. CapoziAttorney-Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

57 ABSTRACT In an indicator device, the usual pointer is replaced, inaccordance with the invention, by a path of moving light which comprisesan illuminatable path. The path is illuminatable from one end to theother in such a manner that, when a portion of the path is illuminated,then all of the path from one end thereof to the portion is illuminatedwhile the remainder of the path, from the other end thereof to theportion, is not illuminated. The illuminatable path preferably comprisesa plurality of individually illuminatable elements, and, preferably,each of the elements comprises strands of optical fiber.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures v PATENTED 3,726,250

sum 1 0F 2 FIGU R E l INVENTOR Paul J. MERK Wvga 17.4 TENT NTS PATENTED3.726250 sum 2 UF 2 DECODER AND LIGHT PROGRAMMER souRcEs \NPUT -o.|

v I MD E DER O-LINEAR|ZER CONVERTOR 0 D|$PLAY INPUT NO.2

FIGURE 2- FIGURE 3 NVEN Pu ME This invention relates to an indicatordevice utilizing a novel indicating means for indicating an observedcondition or a change in the observed condition on an indicator face,and an indicator utilizing the novel means. More specifically, thisinvention relates to an indicator device which utilizes an illuminatablepath to indicate the state of an observed condition or a change in theobserved condition.

In most present indicators, the state of an observed condition, or achange therein, is indicated by a pointer means operating inco-operation with a scale located at or beyond the moving end of thepointer. The pointer, of course, undergoes mechanical motion andtherefore requires mechanical means to drive it. Both the pointer andthe drive means are subject to the wear and tear associated withmechanical moving parts.

In addition, with circular indicators where the scale is adjacent theouter edge of the circle, or in rectangular indicators where the scaleis located adjacent three or more outer edges thereof, both the pointerand the driving mechanism will obscure the central part of the face andthus render it less useful for the purpose of including readout meanstherein.

In an indicator device in accordance with the invention, no mechanicalmovement or drives are required to indicate the state of an observedcondition or a change therein. Further, the center of a circular orrectangular indicator device is not obscured by the indicating means andmay be used for further readout means. In addition, it has been observedthat, when observing a display of a change in condition on the inventiveindicator device, a feeling of the change in condition is transmitted tothe observer.

In accordance with the invention, an indicator device for indicating thestate of an observed condition or a change in said condition comprisesan indicator face having, on a viewing surface thereon, a scalerepresentative of states of said observed condition; an illuminatablepath on said surface of said face and adjacent said scale; said pathbeing illuminatable from one end of said path to the other end of saidpath in such a manner that, when a portion of said path is illuminated,all of said path from one end thereof to said portion is illuminated,while the remainder of said path, from said portion to the other endthereof, is not illuminated;,the reading on the scale adjacent the endof the illuminated portion of said path being representative of thestate of the observed condition, and at least one light source forilluminating said illuminatable path.

Preferably, the illuminatable paths comprise a pluralityof.illuminatable elements, each one of which is separatelyilluminatable.

Preferably again, each of the elements comprises strands of fiber opticcable, the entire arrangement comprising a separate light source foreach element.

In this specification, illuminatable means capable of being illuminated.

The invention will be better understood by an examination of thefollowing text together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an indicator face using an illuminatable path as anindicator in accordance with the invention;

FIG. Z-sh-ows an electrical system for illuminating the path of theindicator device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates how the path can be constructed I when the pathcomprises strands of fiber optic cable.

In FIG. 1, an indicator device 1 comprises a face 2 having anilluminatable path 3 adjacent the outer edge thereof. The path comprisesa plurality of elements 4 each one of which is adaptable to beindividually illuminated. In accordance with the invention, the elementsare illuminated in a clockwise direction, and when a further element isilluminated, all elements preceding the further element remainilluminated. To illustrate this in FIG. 1, all of the elements inportion 3a of the path are shown illuminated, whereas all of theelements in portion 3b of the path are shown as not illuminated.

The end of the illuminated portion of the path is adjacent to the numberon the scale 5 which is indicative of the condition being observed.Conveniently, the number of elements between the numbers on the scalecan be equal to or an even multiple of the interval between the numberson the scale. So, in the figure, the number of elements between thenumbers on the scale is equal to five, and the interval between thenumbers I on the scale is equal to 25. In accordance with the above, theindicator shown in FIG. 1 is indicating a condition of 160.

As can be seen, the use of the novel illuminatable path indicating meanspermits the unobscured view of further readout means 6 and 7. Althoughthese have been shown as a digital readout means and a flag meansrespectively, other readout means could be incorporated in the center ofthe indicator face.

A change in condition is displayed by illuminating or extinguishingelements at the end of the existing illuminated portion of the path. Theeffect of this on an observer of the indicator is to give a feeling ofthe change in the condition which initiates the further illuminating andextinguishing of the elements.

As is well known, the condition being observed may be the condition ofany physical variable such as altitude, speed, voltage, temperature,etc. and the invention is not restricted to any one of these.

Each of the elements in the path has a separate light source associatedwith it, and the light source, when activated, illuminates itsassociated element. A system for driving the light sources isillustrated in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, inputs 1 and 2 are alternatives and the output of anyinstrument will be connected to only one of these. Input 1 is used whenthe output of the instrument is non-linear, e.g., logarithmic. In thiscase, the output must be converted to linear form in the iinealizer 10before being applied to the A/D convertor 11. When the output of theinstrument is linear, it is applied directly to the A/D convertorthrough the input 2.

The digital output of the A/D convertor is applied to the decoder andprogrammer 14 which is programmed to drive the light sources 15 in asequential fashion. In addition, the decoder and programmer is adaptedto decode the input signal and is programmed to illuminate the number ofelements required to indicate-the condition measured by the instrument.The output of the A/D convertor may also be applied to a further decoder12 which may be adapted to drive a digital display 13 such as thedigital display 6 in FIG. ll.

In the preferred embodiment, the path is constructed of strands of fiberoptic cable, and each element 4 in FIG. 1 comprises strands of fiberoptic cable. One method for placing the fiber optic cable in a displaydevice is illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a bunch of cable is insertedin a through hole 11 of the backplate 12. The individual strands arethen separated in cavity 14 of the frontplate 15. Each strand is held inplace at the front by an epoxy matrix 16. It is, of course, understoodthat each strand is terminated along the front face of the device asillustrated in FIG. 4.

A light source 17 is surrounded by a heat sink 18 to complete thearrangement. As is apparent, each element 4 in FIG. 1 will require aseparate light source.

While a particular embodiment has been described in the foregoing, thiswas for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting the invention.Various modifications which will come readily to the mind of one skilledin the art are considered to be within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An illuminatable path for an indicator device for indicating statesof a detected condition or a change in such condition, said indicatordevice comprising a face plate having two surfaces, one of said surfacesbeing a viewing surface, the other surface opposing said viewingsurface, a back plate adjacent to said opposing surface; and a scale onsaid viewing surface representative of the states of said conditions orchanges; said illuminatable path comprising; a plurality of openings insaid face plate extending from said viewing surface to said opposingsurface; said openings being located adjacent said scale on said viewingsurface; a plurality of openings in said back plate equal in number tothe plurality of openings in said face plate; each said opening in saidback plate corresponding and being adjacent to an opening in said faceplate; a separate bunch of strands of fiber optic material extendingfrom each opening in said back plate through said back plate throughsaid opening in said face plate to said viewing surface; the individualstrands of each bunch being separated as the bunch extends through thecorresponding opening in said face plate to comprise a set of individualstrands in each opening at the viewing surface of said face plate; saidstrands being embedded in a matrix of epoxy material in each opening atthe viewing surface of said face plate; and separate means forilluminating each said bunch.

2. A path as defined in claim 1 and further comprising a plurality ofheat sinks, said plurality of heat sinks being equal in number to saidplurality of openings in said back plate; each one of said heat sinksbeing located on the side of the back plate opposite that side adjacentto the face plate; each of said heat sinks being adjacent an opening insaid back plate; and wherein said separate means of illuminating eachsaid bunch comprises light bulbs, each said bulbs being surrounded byone of said heat sinks.

3. A path as defined in claim 2 wherein said path comprises a first endand a second end; said bulbs being adapted to be lit up in sequence fromsaid first end to said second end in such a manner that, when a pointintermediate said first end and said second end is to be indicated, allof the bulbs from said first end to said intermediate point will be litup, and all the bulbs from said intermediate point to said second e ndwill not be lit up.

1. An illuminatable path for an indicator device for indicating statesof a detected condition or a change in such condition, said indicatordevice comprising a face plate having two surfaces, one of said surfacesbeing a viewing surface, the other surface opposing said viewingsurface, a back plate adjacent to said opposing surface; and a scale onsaid viewing surface representative of the states of said conditions orchanges; said illuminatable path comprising; a plurality of openings insaid face plate extending from said viewing surface to said opposingsurface; said openings being located adjacent said scale on said viewingsurface; a plurality of openings in said back plate equal in number tothe plurality of openings in said face plate; each said opening in saidback plate corresponding and being adjacent to an opening in said faceplate; a separate bunch of strands of fiber optic material extendingfrom each opening in said back plate through said back plate throughsaid opening in said face plate to said viewing surface; the individualstrands of each bunch being separated as the bunch extends through thecorresponding opening in said face plate to comprise a set of individualstrands in each opening at the viewing surface of said face plate; saidstrands being embedded in a matrix of epoxy material in each opening atthe viewing surface of said face plate; and separate means forilluminating each said bunch.
 2. A path as defined in claim 1 andfurther comprising a plurality of heat sinks, said plurality of heatsinks being equal in number to said plurality of openings in said backplate; each one of said heat sinks being located on the side of the backplate opposite that side adjacent to the face plate; each of said heatsinks being adjacent an opening in said back plate; and wherein saidseparate means of illuminating each said bunch comprises light bulbs,each said bulbs being surrounded by one of said heat sinks.
 3. A path asdefined in claim 2 wherein said path comprises a first end and a secondend; said bulbs being adapted to be lit up in sequence from said firstend to said second end in such a manner that, when a point intermediatesaid first end and said second end is to be indicated, all of the bulbsfrom said first end to said intermediate point will be lit up, and allthe bulbs from said intermediate point to said second end will not belit up.